The Arab World's major pay TV operators provide a choice of 140 pay TV channels

There are three major satellite Pay TV providers that cater to the Arab region. The Arab Television and Radio Network (ART) was the first Pay TV provider to offer its subscription services in 1993. Orbit followed a year later with a fully digital, multi-channel, multi-lingual, pay television service in the Middle East. Showtime Arabia followed and launched in 1996. In addition to the three major Pay TV providers in the Arab World, Al Jazeera Sports, Almajd and STAR operators also provide Pay TV channels.

A new report, Satellite Pay TV operators in the Arab World was released to Arab Advisors Group's media strategic research service subscribers on December 24, 2007. The report - which has 56 pages and 31 detailed exhibits - analyzes the landscape of Satellite Pay TV and profiles all the main operators including ART, Orbit and Showtime Arabia. The report also provides insights into pay TV penetration in the region based on Arab Advisors major surveys.

'It is noteworthy that in addition to Pay TV services there are some cable TV providers that provide local cable services in some Arab countries such as Kuwait Cable Vision in Kuwait, Cablevision in Lebanon, QVC in Qatar and E-vision in the UAE.' Ms. Danya Nusseir, Arab Advisors Group analyst wrote in the report. 'In November 2007, Orbit offered the highest number of channels with 48 channels (excluding the 4 pay-per-view channels), going up from only 31 in December 2005. ART provides 42 channels and Showtime provides 36 (excluding the 10 pay-per-view channels),' Ms. Nusseir added.